Further to the information already supplied, the following is taken from a memoir by Robert Simpson’s son.
Robert Simpson was born at Cotherstone near Barnard Castle in 1814. His father, John Simpson, and grandfather, John Bell, were owners of landsale collieries in that area. Robert was apprenticed to a draper, but before finishing his apprenticeship he moved into coal mining, as a craneman at Blackboy Colliery in County Durham,. T. Y. Hall, the manager of the colliery, soon discovered that there was something in the youth, and without going though the subordinate positions in the mine, he was made one of the overmen at South Hetton Colliery, where he soon became assistant manager. At age 21, he became assistant manager to Hall at Towneley Colliery, by the river Tyne, later becoming manager of a group of collieries in that area. At these collieries, Hall and Simpson introduced the tub, cage, and shaft guide system for coal winding, replacing for the first time the use of corves attached to a winding rope.
In 1853, Simpson was offered the management of the Countess of Waldegrave’s mines at Radstock near Bath, which he accepted, and was there several months, but, (according to his son), he felt that the district did not suit his health, and as the Stella Coal Company wished him to stay in the North and take the full management of their collieries & affairs, he returned to the North East, much to the regret of the Advisors of the Countess of Waldegrave who had so much profited by the improvements he had made which turned the Collieries from losing money to most profitable ones. Simpson recommended the appointment of G. C. Greenwell, (who was then managing Marley Hill Collieries) as his successor at Radstock.
Stafford
-----Original Message-----
From: Keith Ramsey [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thu 22/05/2003 19:52
To: [log in to unmask]
Cc:
Subject: Matthew Liddell & Robert Simpson
Does anyone know anything about Liddell and Simpson?
Liddell, of Benton Grange (exact location unknown), seems to have been some
kind of consultant colliery engineer. In 1853 he helped to recruit Simpson
as manager of the Countess Waldegrave's pits at Radstock in Somerset, and
when Simpson became ill soon after his appointment he recruited George
Clementson Greenwell as his replacement.
Simpson pleaded ill health within a few months of taking up the job at
Radstock and decided to return to Newcastle. He had, however, received an
offer of a better job and his employers seem to have thought that that was
the real reason for his departure. They insisted that he stay on until a new
manager was found, although he claimed that he was in such poor health that
this would put his life in danger. Does anyone know what became of him?
Keith Ramsey
|